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Storyteller’s Night is Thursday, January 28th at Jesse Brown’s

By Jesse Brown's

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We’ve got a GREAT lineup, and YOU’RE invited!

Tom Bohr shares tales from his adventurous life & his appreciation for it. This appreciation reaches its maximum when a curveball of life occurs & Tom has a chance to evaluate all that he has done … and what his future may hold. His story of “Seize the Day” will inspire you to action, as well.

Muriel Epling shares her story of goals, objectives & being herself by using her love of adventure & art. Come hear how she came to know hiking, climbing & paddling & its similarities to painting, and how they bring meaning to her life. Hike, Paint, Life will make you want to do & live all three.

Cameron Wright has fished & travelled the world, but this time he’ll share the fun, the fear & the pure adventure of some of the best places that he’s been – and maybe some of the worst! Stop by to see how fishing can bring meaning to travel & adventure, most notably when there is a “Fish On”.

It’s Thursday, January 28th at Jesse Brown’s! As always, snack and drinks on us!

Scoop on the USNWC Land Grab

By Jesse Brown's

Photo: USNWC
Photo: USNWC

The idea that one of our favorite places to play outside was getting even BIGGER was sure exciting news to us. The Charlotte Business Journal story on the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s purchase of nearly 500 more adjacent acres was more than enough reason for us to spend a few minutes texting back and forth with Eric Osterhus, brand manager for the USNWC.

Eric wouldn’t tip us to any grand plans yet for the property, but did say that the land would stay in its “natural state” right now, and eventually be more space for guests to explore and play. And given that the Whitewater Center currently sits on some 266 acres, that’s a whole lot more opportunity to take a walk in the woods, so to speak.

Right now Eric said there would be no immediate benefits from the land purchase, but promised that there would be “good stuff” to come in the future. With the purchase just closing this week, Eric didn’t have a hard date on when we could expect to blaze any new trails on the additional acreage.

“With all the other projects underway right now it’s hard to say, but hopefully we’ll have some news soon,” he said.

Wait… other projects? You read it right. Eric confirmed there’s a ton of new development happening right now at the Whitewater Center. From a first-of-its-kind deep water solo climbing wall, to hundreds more feet of zip line, to thousands more square feet of food and beverage, the Whitewater Center is host to its own construction boom.

Seems like it wasn’t so long ago when some folks were second-guessing the investment in a man-made whitewater rapids facility that was (practically) on the way to nowhere. Well, here we are not so many years down the road and the Whitewater Center is now a year-round playground for all sorts of outdoor activities.

Saturday morning, we talk with Eric about the Whitewater Center on the Carolinas Outdoors radio program on WBT 1110AM. Don’t sweat it if you’re a late sleeper, you can always download the podcast from the Jesse Brown’s website!

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Panthers Hit the Road. Here’s What a Hometown Fan Can Do!

By Jesse Brown's

Basking in the glow of an 8-0 start to the season is a lovely place to be. But if you’re like us here at Jesse Brown’s, you might be wondering how to while away the hours until Sunday’s game at Tennessee. Well, if you’re not making the road trip to see the Panthers take on the Titans, there’s plenty to do around here this weekend – and you’ll still have time to get back in front of the wide screen before kickoff!

ar119367360627129Southern Christmas Show: Christmas carols, treats, trees, and great holiday gift ideas all around can be found at the Southern Christmas Show! For some folks, this IS the official start of the holiday season. For nearly 50 years, this holiday tradition has helped put Charlotte in the mood for the season. And for good reason! A stroll down Christmas Tree Lane, a visit with Santa, or a wander through the Enchanted Village or the Tiny Trains is more than enough to unwrap the memories of Christmases past, and get us poised to celebrate Christmas present! And yes, you’ll find your friends from Jesse Brown’s among the Olde Towne shops!

Website: https://southernshows.com/scs

 

thunderroadNovant Health Thunder Road Marathon: Charlotte’s premiere road racing event is this Saturday, The Novant Health Thunder Road Marathon. Running, music, family-friendly entertainment and the Charlotte region’s rich heritage of stock car racing come together for the “big finish” for Charlotte’s road racing season. From the time the green flag drops on race day until the checkered flag falls on the final finisher, you will experience the race of a lifetime while enjoying the music, fans and sites along one of the Southeast’s most scenic courses. The Novant Health Thunder Road Marathon also features a Half Marathon and 5K. Registration is still available at the Event Expo on Friday.

Website: www.runcharlotte.com

 

TDFLogo4001-285x285Tour de Food: Looking for something a little less “racy”? Eat, drink, walk and take a more leisurely pace and see Uptown Charlotte via the Tour de Food. Explore the culinary mecca found in Uptown Charlotte. The Tour de Food starts out at the 7th Street Market and make its way through the busy city streets, sampling farm to table restaurants, wonderful wine or champagne, fabulous pastries and more! You’ll meet the artisans who create these incredible culinary dishes and find out what motivates them, learn about Charlotte’s deep history and view the architectural beauty the city offers.

Website: https://www.tourdefood.com/tours/uptowncharlotte/

 

renfaireCarolina Renaissance Festival: Knights, nobles, fairies, princesses, and yes… those turkey legs! Fall just doesn’t seem complete without a visit to the Carolina Renaissance Festival. With a dozen stages featuring non-stop entertainment, comedy, music and dance – not to mention the roving costumed cast of characters – you’ll be hard pressed to find a day with more to offer. And did we mention the jousting knights in armor?! Arts and crafts, games and rides. There’s something for everyone here. And turkey legs.

Website: http://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com

 

UnknownSalute to America’s Heroes, featuring the U.S. Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club: The Charlotte Symphony salutes America’s heroes with its special guest, the U.S. Naval Academy Men’s Glee Club. The group has achieved international prominence as one of America’s premier men’s choral ensembles and has been all over television and the internet. This spectacular group of midshipmen perform a wide range of sacred music and American spirituals plus the famous “Navy Hymn,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America the Beautiful,” “Anchors Aweigh,” and more! Sure to get you in the patriotic spirit!

Website: http://www.charlottesymphony.org

 

dynomiteDYNOMITE Bouldering Competition: Nowhere to go but up from here! Climb on in the third annual DYNOMITE Bouldering Competition presented by La Sportiva at the USNWC Climbing Center, featuring bouldering problems for all skill levels. Try your hand at various difficulty level problems in either the USA Climbing Competition or the Citizens Bouldering Competition. And you thought the Whitewater Center was just about getting wet!

Website: http://usnwc.org/play/whitewater-race-series/upcoming/dynomite-bouldering-competition/

 

Of course, if all this doesn’t keep your busy until kickoff Sunday, stop by Jesse Brown’s and let’s talk football, fly fishing, or fall travel! Go Panthers!

Fall Into the Thread at Jesse Brown’s

By Jesse Brown's

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Join Jesse Brown’s to celebrate the cooler, colorful outdoors and the Carolina Thread Trail! We’re hosting the Trailheads’ annual “Fall Into the Thread” event featuring live music, local beer, wine, light apps and great sponsor gifts. Plus, meet special guest Jennifer Pharr Davis, the female Appalachian Trail supported thru-hike record holder. 

When: Thursday, October 8
Time: 6-8:30 pm
Where: Jesse Brown’s, of course! 4732 Sharon Road, CLT 28210


Your entry includes:

  • Annual Trailheads Membership and T-shirt
  • $10 gift card to Jesse Brown’s
  • Local beer by Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
  • Wine and hors d’oeuvers from Whole Foods Market
  • Live bluegrass music
  • Jennifer Pharr Davis presentation “The Extra Mile – Exploring the Limits of Endurance”

What’s a “Trailhead”?

Glad you asked! Trailheads is a grassroots affiliate group that supports the development of the Carolina Thread Trail in this region. The trail network will link 2.3 million people in 15 counties throughout North and South Carolina via greenways, natural surface trails and blueways (rivers). Trailheads enjoy the trails, volunteer and advocate for the health of this region through outdoor recreation, natural spaces and connection to nature. Through the enthusiasm of its members, Trailheads is an integral part of Thread Trail’s future.

Yes, you can pre-register for the event and get tickets at the door on October 8. See you then!

Storyteller’s Night RETURNS to Jesse Brown’s

By Jesse Brown's

You heard right! Storyteller’s Night RETURNS to Jesse Brown’s on Thursday, September 24th. Yes, we’ll have beer and snacks, but that’s just how we do it around here! The real treat is the lineup we’ve got in store for you!

Tripp Wood tells us what it’s like to not just visit but to LIVE in Alaska! Can’t wait for that one. Jason Allen riffs on an adventure race that nearly killed him. No kidding! And if you’ve ever had a favorite shirt, you’ll love Joe Overfelt’s story of how a first job turned into something a whole lot bigger! Come on out to Jesse Brown’s for Storyteller’s Night on September 24th!

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CCA Coastal Party Coming Thursday!

By Jesse Brown's

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Make plans to join us here on Thursday, August 20th for the annual Jesse Brown’s – CCA NC Coastal Party! Your $20 donation for entry goes toward the NC chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, and gets you a $10 Jesse Brown’s Gift Card! Sounds like a win-win!

What: Jesse Brown’s CCA Coastal Party
When: Thursday, August 20th 6:00 pm – 8:00pm
Where: Jesse Brown’s, of course!

  • Live music from The Moonshine Racers!
  • Hogman BBQ along with beer from one of Charlotte’s finest breweries!
  • $10 Jesse Brown’s Outdoors Gift Card!
  • Raffle items and door prizes!
  • Great specials inside Jesse Brown’s – including Summer Clearance gear and goods up to 50% OFF!

Buy an advance ticket to the CCA NC Charlotte Banquet scheduled for October 1st ($65 per person / $100 per couple) and get in to the Jesse Brown’s CCA event for FREE!

All proceeds go to CCA North Carolina to support the conservation of our precious coastal marine resources. For more information on the October banquet or to buy tickets in advance, please call CCA NC at 919-781-3474.

Charlotte Sports Grow Up

By Jesse Brown's

Last Saturday almost 62,000 people attended the Paris St. Germain versus Chelsea F.C. soccer game at Bank of America Stadium.  These two international titans going head-to-head with a lot of cheering for both sides made me think of Charlotte’s maturation as a sport town.

Recently, I had a chance to share at my Rotary Club a presentation on Health, Happiness & History.  During the “History” portion I told of my story of witness at the soccer game & my recollections that came from it.

The major league teams are enjoying success.  The Hornets are recognized internationally by logo, the Panthers are beginning training camp & expected to be competitive.  The BB&T ballpark is breaking records with our Charlotte Knights & NASCAR has so many teams, drivers & owners headquartered in our area that the NASCAR Hall of Fame couldn’t resist being located somewhere else.

Before the “big” sports took the spotlight, there were the three R’s:  Racing, Roundball… this IS ACC-basketball country, after all! And of course, ‘Rassling’.  Don’t laugh at the last one.  Professional wrestling’s epicenter in the 70’s & 80’s was Charlotte, NC.  This fan-friendly, television-promoted category laid the framework of sport & promotion that we enjoy today.

Due to Charlotte-based Jim Crockett Promotions & their brands such as “Pro Championship Wrestling” “East Coast Wrestling”, “Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling” & “Wide World Wrestling” there were hundreds of wrestlers that worked within Charlotte during those years.  Many hailed from NC & many remained.  Here are just a few that were in our area:

stallion

If you saw this guy at the grocery you’d call him Gary Sabaugh; but in the Ring he was known as “The Italian Stallion” & he lives in Charlotte.

magnum

Terry Allen was the name on his credit card if you saw him out at a restaurant but at the Grady Cole Center he was Magnum TA.  He lives here in Charlotte.

adullah

His Charlotte Library Card read Larry Shreve but at a WBTV’s, 1 Julian Price Place taping he was Addullah the Butcher.  Although he was from Atlanta, he did a lot of work in Charlotte.  His best-known wrestling move?  The FOREIGN OBJECT!

junkyard

Sylvester Ritter was born in Wadesboro but his wrestling-action figure was the JUNKYARD DOG.

dragon

He’ll answer to Richard Henry Blood on a boat in his Mooresville, NC-homewaters of Lake Norman but at the old, Charlotte Coliseum, he was known as Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat

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Richard Morgan Fleihr could frequently be seen in south Charlotte steakhouses but most people know him as the “Nature Boy”.

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Guess what!!  Vince McMahon, the CEO of the World Wrestling Enterprise, consolidated many of the different promotions into one.  He is a billionaire that lives in Stamford, CT & from all that I could surmise he hasn’t lived in Charlotte

…………but he was born in Pinehurst, NC!

Wow!  We’ve come a long way as a sports community.  I hope you can join our TAILGATE at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, September 3rd, for the University of North Carolina versus the University of South Carolina Football Kickoff.  You never know there could be a professional wrestler lurking in there somewhere.

Bill Bartee is the owner of Jesse Brown’s & co-host of WBT’s Carolina Outdoors Radio Program every Saturday morning at 5 a.m. on 1110 WBT AM/ 99.3 FM

Storyteller’s Return This Thursday

By Jesse Brown's

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We have an incredible lineup of storyteller’s for Thursday, May 21 here at Jesse Brown’s! This is always one of our favorite get-togethers, and the crowd – and the storytellers themselves – seem to get better and better with each turn.

storytellers honey on pointThis go round, we’ll welcome our friend Mike Thomas with his story, “Honey on Point: A Dog’s Legacy of Friendship”. If you’ve ever had a dog, then you know what kind of impact they can have on their person. Well, Mike’s managed to wrap his arms around that storyline in a touching, heart-tugging vignette we can’t wait for you to hear. Spoiler alert! Better bring the Kleenex, folks.

 

 

storytellers ted wrightSo many religions trace their history to the Holy Land, it’s one of the most-visited spots on the globe. A trip to this part of the world was particularly poignant for our man, Ted Wright. His story, “A Visit to Israel: Adventures From the Past and Into the Future,” is one man’s personal – and professional take – on touring these historical sites.

 

 

 

storytellers moMohammed Idlibi is a genuine globetrotter. From his “base camp” here in Charlotte, he’s traveled the world to run, climb, hike – you name it! No matter how long or far you travel, you have to prepare for the unexpected. Mohammed’s story, “27 Days to the Summit of Denali”, is testament to the iron will it takes to improvise, adapt, and overcome barriers to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Like we said, quite the lineup! We’ll see you Thursday. Snacks and beer on us!